Downing Street defends Starmer picking new Labour peers on Prime Minister’s Resignation Honours list

Downing Street has defended the “normal practice” of prime ministers recommending individuals for peerage after reports that Sir Keir Starmer could fill the House of Lords with 19 new Labor MPs.

Times Number 10 is reportedly preparing to announce unelected parliamentary candidates days before the Prime Minister leaves office.

According to the newspaper, 19 new MPs were appointed to the Labor Party, four to the Conservatives and five to the Liberal Democrats.

The Times said the total number of MPs appointed since Sir Keir entered government two years ago will rise to 135.

Labor has previously accused the Conservative Party of “packing” the red benches while in power, allowing the party to thwart the government’s opposition legislative plans.

Sir Keir argued that the House of Lords should be abolished before he wins the 2024 general election and said awards should go to “the public service, not fellow Tories”.

While in office the Government passed the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill 2026, ending seats available to hereditary peers due to family ties.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters about reports of their impending candidacy: “I will not comment on this speculation.

“More generally, it is normal practice for prime ministers to recommend individuals as peers.

“But this Government has already fulfilled its commitment to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords, and this represents a significant constitutional reform.”

The official added that ministers were “exploring further reforms in the form of mandatory participation and retirement age”.

Sir Keir’s new list will need to be signed off by the House of Lords appointments committee.

There have been long-standing concerns about the size of the parliament and there have been calls to reduce the number of MPs, which currently stands at 774 compared to 650.

Figures show the Conservatives remain the largest bloc in the House of Lords, with 246 members compared to Labour’s 216.

There are 156 different candidates, 74 of whom are Liberal Democrats.